‘It was left in the charge of a trustworthy person.’
‘And that trustworthy person, who was he?’ I found it hard to suppress all signs of excitement as I put this question.
‘The gentleman who will shortly be my brother-in-law.’
‘Ah! Perhaps this gentleman is an employee in the same department as yourself?’
‘Not at all,’ Zeiss protested earnestly. ‘He is a teacher in the Military College. He knows nothing of telegraphy; in fact, he has sometimes asked me questions on the subject which have convinced me that he is quite a fool where electricity is concerned.’
‘Indeed! And the name of this foolish person, if you please?’
‘Herr Severinski.’
‘A Pole!’ I exclaimed.
‘No, a Russian. He was exiled to Siberia on account of his political opinions, but escaped. He teaches Russian in the college.’
‘How did he come to be left in charge of this room?’